Israel has carried out an air strike on a southern Beirut suburb targeting a senior official of militant group Hezbollah, despite a ceasefire between the two sides brokered by the United States a year ago.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday's strike, the first on Beirut in months, targeted the Iran-aligned Lebanese group's chief of staff.

An Israeli source briefed on the strike and a Lebanese source said Hezbollah's Ali Tabtabai was the target.

The United States imposed sanctions on Tabtabai in 2016, identifying him as a key Hezbollah leader and offering a reward of up to $US5 million ($A7.8 million) for information on him.

At least four people were killed in the strike that also injured two dozen, who were taken to nearby hospitals, medical sources said. There was no immedi

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